The story: Very quietly, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 is one of the tougher sections in the state. The new classifications kept last year’s sectional champion and finalist in the neighborhood, and added a marquee name and several other strong programs.

The favorite:Summit entered the season determined to right the wrongs of last season’s disastrous loss to Madison in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 final. So far, so good. The Hilltoppers are 9-0 and the section’s top-seeded team despite having several significant injuries to work through this fall. Led by jack-of-all-trades Mike Badgley, bruising fullback/linebacker A.J. Iarussi and a strong defense led by tackle Connor O’Malley and linebacker Colm Dougherty, Summit is aiming for its second state sectional title in four years.

The top contenders: Second-seeded Cranford won this section last year, and returned much of that championship squad, including Pittsburgh-bound quarterback Reggie Green. The Cougars are 6-2, with the losses coming to Summit and Ridge, No. 19 in The Star-Ledger Top 20.

Third-seeded Palisades Park is 7-2 and has won five straight. The Tigers are led by halfbacks Charles Simon, Taj Huggins and Eric Johnson on offense. Linebacker Robert Then leads the defense.

Fourth-seeded Parsippany Hills, which lost to Cranford in last year’s final, runs a spread offense led by star quarterback Tyler Simms. Coach Dave Albano likes to run multiple wide receiver sets to give his senior signal caller options. Running back Carmine Verducci is a great change of pace back that can catch defenses off guard when spread out to defend the pass. The defense, led by linebackers Kyle Annese and Tyler Stecher, is a speedy bunch that prides itself on getting many hats to the ball.

The dark horse: When the NJSIAA classifications were initially released prior to the start of the season, Rahway was placed in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4. But that was later changed, and the sixth-seeded Indians are back in this section, and hoping to make some noise as a lower seed. Rahway has a good chance to do so, too: The 5-3 Indians have a strong running game, led by quarterback Jeffery Bost and halfback Gabril Gross, and play solid defense.

The rest of the field: Fifth-seeded Voorhees is having its best season in years. It had won four in a row before losing the Milk Can Game at rival North Hunterdon last week, 20-13, and defeated Rahway head-to-head this season.

Seventh-seeded South Plainfield (4-4) has qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and is seeking its first four-game winning streak since 1997. Anthony Torchia, a 6-0, 220-pound senior, is the leader of a defense which has been stingy during its three-game winning streak. A linebacker who also plays fullback for a balanced offense, Torchia is averaging 9.9 tackles per game. Quinn Codhrane, a 6-4, 195-pound senior, is an athletic defensive end who plays with reckless abandon.

Eighth-seeded West Side has put together a solid season under the tutelage of coach Halim McNeil. Shanei Hawkins leads the team under center with the explosive Jorge Campbell as his top target. Campbell also doubles as a top-notch corner. Erick Pressley and Shameek Johnson lead the rushing attack. Pressley and Samuel Jackson are also two hard-hitting defenders.

Best player: If there’s something Badgley can’t do on a football field, it hasn’t been discovered yet. The senior can run, pass, catch, kick field goals, boom touchbacks, break returns for scores, make game-changing plays on defense and pin teams back with punts. As a kicker, he is receiving interest from elite FBS programs.

Best first round game: Either Voorhees and Parsippany Hills will get a shot at knocking off Summit, but the two have to meet before and decide who will get the chance. Both teams are very different: The Vikings have postseason experience and run a high-flying spread, while the other Vikings are new to this playoff thing and are a ground-and-pound type of squad.

Did you know?: Palisades Park has played three overtime games this season, and suffered both of its losses in an extra period: a 32-26 win at Hawthorne in the season opener, a 18-15 loss to Waldwick the next week and then a 21-14 loss at Saddle Brook on Sept. 29.

The pick: Summit over Cranford
So many in Union County have wanted this rematch ever since the two teams played a thriller back in September, and that desire will come to pass. It won’t be an easy road for both teams to get to the final – Rahway will come oh-so-close to upsetting Cranford in the semifinals – but they will get there. And once there, the script will remain the same. Summit owns the series both recently and all-time, and the Hilltoppers will add another trophy to their collection.

FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
8-West Side at 1-Summit, Saturday at 2
5-Voorhees at 4-Parsippany Hills, Saturday at 1
6-Rahway at 3-Rahway, Friday at 7
7-South Plainfield at 2-Cranford, Friday at 7